WinterLAN 2013

The annual WinterLAN is upon us once again!!

On January 12th, i3 Detroit will be hosting the Fourth annual i3 WinterLAN Social event, starting Saturday at noon and ending when the sun comes up on Sunday.

The event will be all about games – BYOC (Bring your own computer) gaming, Board gaming, and tabletop RPG.

The i3Detroit common space will be set up for computer gaming with plenty of power, tables, and chairs. The loft will sport a projector hooked up for console gaming (Got a vintage console you can bring?). Board games will take place in any of our multiple rooms.

If you have any kind of game people will enjoy, bring it, bring yourself, and bring your thirst for gaming. See you then!

https://www.facebook.com/events/445166425538652

Commons

*PC*
(FPS)
*Unreal Tournament 99 – Can be found cheap $5-10
*Fear Combat – $Free
*CS:S CounterStrike:Source – $19.99
*TF2 – Team Fortress 2 – $19.99
*Quake Live – $Free
*L4D2 – $49.99
(RTS)
*WCIII BattleChest – $19.99
*CNC3
*RA3
and more…

Loft

*Console gaming & relaxing area
*Xbox
*PS3
*NES, if someone brings one.
*Sega, if someone brings one.
*NeoGeo, if you bring one 

Whiteboard room projector

*RockBand/Guitar Hero

Workshop Tables

*Board Games*

What do people have available?
Risk?
Life?
Settlers of Catan?
If you have a game people will enjoy, bring it!!

Laser cut Christmas star

I’ve posted this project on Thingiverse. It uses our laser cutter and the RGB slow changing LEDs with a 3V supply.

Check it out http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:37239

Inlay Using Laser Engraving

Here is an example of a distinctive effect you can get with laser-cutting. I laser-engraved the laser cutter donation box made by the wood shop warden, Greg Smith. Then I laser-cut the same shapes out of marbled formica, and set those shapes into the engraving.

The Balloon Launch Project

Balloon project payload housing and spare GPS parts

I’m forming a group to work on a balloon-launch project. With a tentative launch date of June 2013, we plan to launch a weather balloon-powered payload to the mid-stratosphere, take measurements, and recover it.

The first question I always get is “Why”, and I invariably look up, seeking the depths of the sky for an answer. George Mallory, one of the first hikers to climb Mount Everest, was once asked why he felt compelled to climb the world’s highest peak. His famous answer was “Because it’s there”. Those that have ever felt the call of the explorer know how irresistible that is. I’ve come to love hearing people tell me “Well, people have done that before.” True, but *we* have not. Not yet, but we will.

We will not be the first to get to this altitude, nor will we be the last, but it isn’t a trivial task. For the trouble we’re going through to try to achieve our goals, we’re serious about doing some science while we’re there. Up there, we’ll be outside of typical FAA flight zones – this airspace is usually reserved for military use. We know its cold, we know the air is thin, but we also know it’s beautiful up there – a silent and rareified place where, in the words of Felix Baumgartner, you feel as if “you’re on top of the world.” We will collect temperature measurements, pressure measurements, and, of course, take some pictures. We will have the rare opportunity to change our perspective on the world for a little while, and maybe even make some ‘firsts’ while we do it.

In the end we’ve got so much going for us: a legacy of flights to build and improve upon, a hackerspace full of know-how and ingenuity, and the patience to know that we may fail here and there, but what we learn will get us to our goal with that much more experience.

We’re always excited to hear from people who are inspired by this project and we welcome anyone who wants to join the group, learn how to move the project forward, and contribute to the team effort.

Open Shop Friday

It’s Friday, and at i3 Detroit that means it’s Open Shop Friday! This is the perfect time to check out the space, meet some members, work on some projects, or just hang out.

If you’re reading this, you know the deal by now. 1481 Wordsworth, Ferndale. 5:30pm-midnight.

Also, a cookie for whoever comes closest to identifying that thing in the photo…